Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Georgia peaches. The gentleman stuck these in my shopping cart last night. The first of the season. Ridiculously juicy and sweet.

And pretty enough for an impromptu still life.

I am also thrilled to tell you that our wedding is featured on Snippet & Ink today. My very favorite wedding blog! A huge honor ~ thank you to Kathryn, and our wonderful photographer Kate! Everything looks so beautiful.

Monday, May 23, 2011

I have learned that every now and then one simply needs to give into the season and revel in the bounty. For example:

My mother tells the story of my great-grandmother making strawberry shortcake for sunday lunch. Just that, strawberry shortcake. Served on her pink-flowered Haviland china. So, when I spied fresh local berries at yesterday's market (the first of the season), I decided to continue the family tradition. Hot biscuits baked from scratch, whipped cream with a dash of elderflower syrup, and sweet red berries. All piled high. I think the gentleman was a bit incredulous when I handed him his lunch. For real? Yes, for real. . . enjoy.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Our little garden on the roof. Anyone need basil? Because we have more than we can handle. The plants love the cool, wet weather.

Container gardening is an interesting challenge, especially 11 stories off the ground! Things don't work the way they do on (or in) the ground. We learned a lot from our mistakes last summer, and seem to be doing very well this year. I have found Gayla Trail's blog You Grow Girl to be a fantastic resource. . . and her book Grow Great Grub has become my gardening bible.

So what to do with all those herbs? Get cookin'! Last night the gentleman made bruschetta, with local mozzarella, tomatoes, big FRESH basil leaves, and a slice of avocado. And I am thinking this chilled leek soup sounds good.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

. . . for a bit of Georgian architecture. A snippet from my visit this past February to Dr. Johnson's House in London.

Inspired by Emily's trip in January, I decided to seek out this little gem of a house. Finding it is no easy task, tucked away in the heart of Fleet Street (in fact, had EEE not mentioned the nearby McDonald's, I think I would have thrown my hands up in despair). That the house has survived history is extraordinary. . . literally being blitzed during WWII, and now hemmed in by modernity. As Emily wrote, the house is sparsely furnished, leaving one to conjure up the past without the clutter of objects. After all, it is the stories of the personalities that inhabited the place that really matter. From an architectural perspective, however, it is fascinating to see a Georgian townhouse so intact.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

From our adventures at Arlington House last weekend. It was a ridiculously gorgeous day for the annual outing of the Center for Palladian Studies in America. This year, Washington! From Latrobe to Mills to Thornton, it was an architectural orgy, and an opportunity for me to look at my city from a different perspective. Funny how things can become so familiar that you don't really see them.

Just a little plug ~ but I must say that the CPSA is a great organization. If you are even remotely interested in architecture, it is well worth the $30 to join. The journal alone is worth it!

* and an advance copy of this impressive tome (832 pages) just arrived on my desk! Having had the pleasure of assisting on it over the past 5 years, I can say with authority. . . it is REALLY well done. (You should order a copy.)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

We have been enjoying the most wonderful evening skies (it's a bit distracting).

There has been good food and wine: i.e. salmon fillets with fresh dill from the garden, roasted chicken with sage, rhubarb sauce, and quiche with local spinach and leeks. Oh, and I discovered the gentleman doesn't like peas! However, for those of you who do ~ yum.

We have been reading, a lot. There are currently piles and piles of books "in progress." Our wedding registry consisted primarily of books, and we received many beautiful, wonderful things, but until recently have had no time to read them. We were also given an extraordinary library by a very special lady ~ it has now been (mostly) catalogued, and we are ever more in awe.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Of the many details from last week's royal wedding, I was particularly intrigued by the attention paid to the meaning of flowers. According to the official website, Kate’s bouquet, designed by Shane Connolly, was comprised of flowers chosen for their significance to the families of the bride and groom and their meanings according to the Language of Flowers ~ lily-of-the-valley: return of happiness; sweet William: gallantry; hyacinth: constancy of love; ivy: fidelity, marriage, wedded love, friendship, and affection; and myrtle: an emblem of marriage and love.

When I put together my own bridal bouquet, I admit that I did not pay any attention to the meaning of the flowers included. So, curious to know the message carried in those blooms I turned to the gentleman’s extensive library of Victoriana which (naturally) includes a book on deportment, a whole chapter devoted to the Language of Flowers.

Also in the mix were leaves of dusty miller and sprigs of silver brunia berries, which as far as I can tell have no assigned meaning. All together, I think the symbolism is quite perfect. Incidentally, my two matrons-of-honor carried bouquets comprised of the same flowers, but instead of the chocolate cosmos and astilbe, I included white and brown Queen Anne's Lace, signifying "haven, or protection" (rather appropriate, no?).

And what would a groom be without his boutonnière? The gentleman wore a blue thistle with leaves of sage, meaning "domestic virtue and wisdom," and thyme, signifying "thriftiness." After our ceremony my niece stuffed a bright pink clover flower in with everything. Clover, meaning "to live a carefree life of ease, comfort, or prosperity." She may not have realized it, but she gave us a most wonderful wedding wish!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Some scenes from our weekend. Nasturtiums for the garden. And lots and lots of asparagus (2 pounds to be exact), which I blanched and served cold with curried mayo. There were also pungent leeks, fresh local spinach, and rhubarb. I love spring things!